My sister, who endured the worst of September 16th’s tornado in Prospect Park (!), just called to say that the National Weather Service has announced that a tornado watch is in effect for parts of the metropolitan area including all five boroughs of New York City.

The watch is also in effect for Nassau County, the entire state of New Jersey and, in New York State, as far north as Oneonta. It also covers the eastern quarter of Pennsylvania and parts of Connecticut, including Fairfield County.

The watch was issued at 11 a.m. and is in effect until 6 PM.

Says the City Room blog at the NY Times: “It is too soon to fear for reprise of the Sept. 16 tornado that wreaked havoc in parts of the city. A tornado watch means the conditions are conducive for a tornado, while a warning — which has not been issued — means that a tornado is already on the ground or that there is strong evidence that one will be.”

So it’s a watch and not a warning. Keep your ear to the Internet, the radio and TV for more.